12" XL Double Sided Paddle Strop

If you're looking for the sharpest edge possible we recommend our leather strops. We have found, nothing puts that final edge on a knife better than a leather strop.

Our 12" XL Double Sided Paddle Strop is very versatile tool. We've not found a tool or knife that can't be refined on this strop. The large size accommodates anything you can throw at it. Longer knives like the 12" length while wide tools like planes use the wide 3" width of this strop. The leather accepts honing compounds of various grades. We recommend our Green Honing Compound.

The leather strop isn't new to sharpening but it is still confusing to some. Like a razor strop, the Paddle Strop is used to put a very fine edge on your blade. Barbers have been using leather razor strops for decades to keep an extremely sharp edge on their straight razors. The razor strop is an essential tool for any barber or anyone needing to keep a straight razor sharp enough to shave with. While a razor strop can be used to sharpen a traditional knife, it just isn’t the right tool for the job. For putting the final edge on tools and knives, we recommend a Bench Strop. After sharpening your knife or tool on a bench stone, we recommend finishing it off with a bench strop for an extremely sharp edge. Just think of this strop as your finest stone.

The leather area on our 12" XL Paddle Strop measures 12" x 3" in size. The total length of the strop is over 16". Due to the large size and width, this strop is ideal for both tools and knives.

This 2 Sided Paddle Strop has 1 smooth side and 1 suede side. Both sides are shown in the photo above.

Smooth - The smooth leather option is a very firm piece of leather. This leather is selected specifically for the smooth side only. If the leather is too hard, it just doesn't doesn't work well and doesn't accept compound well. If the leather is too soft, it doesn't produce as fine of an edge and won't hold up. This leather is more durable than the softer leathers.

Suede - The suede side uses the opposite side of the leather (it is technically called the flesh side). The leather we use is selected for its flesh side properties. This leather is different leather than our smooth side leather. In our research, the leather that makes a good suede side is different than the leather that makes a good smooth side. Our suede leather is a little softer than the smooth leather. The suede leather accepts compound very readily.

Made with pride in the USA.

Q. Do you recommend using a compound on the strop?

A. Yes, we highly recommend a compound. Our Green Honing Compound will quickly put a fine polish on the edge of knives and tools.

Q. I'm sharpening carving tools, should I choose the rough or the smooth side?

A. We've used both sides and have found either to work very well. That being said, carvers seem to prefer the rough side.

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